Entries

Maybe, just maybe, it is not you...

I was thinking about the parable of the Sower in the scriptures. I think, as with all parables, there are some interpretations that lend themselves to our work lives. If you find yourself in one of these toxic workplaces, maybe it isn't your fault that you aren't happy and fulfilled.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 07 Apr 2024.

There is only one reason to change who you are...

There have been many times in my life that someone has asked me to change the way I act, the way I talk, or the way I work because they didn't like the way I did something. It often takes the form of "could you be less of you?" or "can you dial it back a little?" In today's episode, I want to discuss this and share the one, singular, reason to make changes to who you are or how you act.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 18 Jan 2024.

Not Resolutions, Boundaries

I have been thinking about New Year's Resolutions a lot lately. Mostly because I finally achieved all of mine this past year. I lost 100 pounds, jumped out of a perfectly good airplane, got a tattoo, found a new job that is amazing (well, as amazing as a job can be). So, this year, instead of setting resolutions, I am going to instead set some boundaries. I wanted to come up with around ten, but here is what I have so far. I will update if I think of anymore. (Update: We have 7 now!)

Written by Jared Pedroza on 23 Dec 2023.

All work is hard work, but some work is harder than others...

I started working on my grandparent's farm when I was 8 years old. My cousin and I would spend time sweeping out the coolers, carrying boxes of apples for the sorting machines, or helping in the store. When I got older, I would help change the oil in the tractor, or one of the delivery trucks, in addition to working in the apple orchards or in the store. This taught me that working on a farm is hard, and I thought I might like to have a different job that wasn't such hard work. I have had a lot of different jobs over the years, and they have all been hard in their own ways.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 04 Dec 2023.

How a stuffed tiger saved my life

This is a difficult story for me to write, and it comes from a pretty raw and vulnerable place.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 13 Nov 2023.

A year later: A retrospective

Almost a year ago now I was fired from a job that I loved, where I was working on some amazing things for the company, with some of the most amazing people I have ever had on my team. In that year I have been through a lot of changes, physical and mental.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 31 Oct 2023.

It's a marathon, not a sprint...

I recently lost a lot of weight in a relatively short time, over the course of several months. I had been attempting to lose the weight for several years (close to 30 to be honest) and nothing had worked. So what changed, and what did I do differently to get such dramatic results?

Written by Jared Pedroza on 22 May 2023.

Why are you the way you are?

I get this question a lot for some reason. Ok, I know the reason, because I am a little odd... eccentric... flat out weird. There I said it. The answer I usually give is, "Have you met my parents?" But there is more to me than that, so here is a longer answer.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 08 Mar 2023.

I have never written a talk...

I was talking with a friend the other day and I mentioned that I have never written a talk. She said, "I could never do that! It took me 12 hours to write a 12-minute talk for church." But her comment got me thinking about how I approach storytelling, which for me includes presentations, talks, and even these posts.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 02 Mar 2023.

Dealing with Being Laid Off

I was let go from a position I really loved at the end of 2022, and it has been a devastating experience. I wanted to share this journey with you all (all 2 of you) partly to have somewhere to discuss how this feels, but also to maybe help someone else that is going through the same thing.

Written by Jared Pedroza on 01 Mar 2023.